The Ottawa free trader., 1887-01-29
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
OLD SETTLERS
COL. DANIEL r.. HIT.
Swr,yor, Warrior, Farmer, Ctisen-Od
Time Memories, and Later DOh,gs

NHfrfy0r, VdVVtoFp T"""b O'~'' WV
Time Memories. and Later Don'gs
(CoNcLUDED)
The war ended aud the Indians driver
Of, SO advertised the country that surrey
ing went briskly y township lines up to Wis
consin and across in divisions and subdivis
ions, seven days in the week-off and on
about sixteen years under government, with
times as county surveyor between terms. OF
four years then, two years nov, and so II
went
All in all, he has seen good bit Of north
orn Illinois and Of it's early settlers, good
had and Indifferent, and if needed, could be
of great help in any final judgment in siz
ing up the last two classes. He has large
respect for 1.-The level and for straight hnes
for the perpendicular Of character, integri
ty, honesty snd truth
When not away on duty Ottawa WAS head
quarters. Years passed before any white mar
nut foot on the main site. north Of the river
with a view Of living there. Brumback
built the frst house on the mound ~her,
Gelney's block now is, levellng it with q
scraper.
Ia 1892 the father, aged 67, died and was
buried nj Vncennes. In 1896 the much
loved m1th.rdied, She had for years lioer
ally sAtrei her sons earnings annually, in
sum, Of hun irels Of dollars. She was laid
by the side Of her husband. She was u very
love,b,e and deyout christian woman.
|, VA. nfter 1910 that the musical genius
of this early settler got public recognition
in connection with
TUE Ftgsr OTTAWA E.SD,
John M.nlcy, rst clari1net! TO tell all
about ir-whIt meetings, wha, sercn,ies
and what lots Of harmony they enjoyed,
might weary the reader, IT wa, not long
before Ole Bull himself came here, when he
was so long ill at Sulphur Spring House
What compliments he gave them or how they
fel. about it they may, like us, never have
heard, but we are in duty bound to say they
did their level best AMI hA lots Of fun
anl es,apel indictment 10y the grand jury
We mention this not so much ~ an import
ant iten of yerit,ble history for the Old
Settlers Association to make note Of, as for
the pleasure which It affords Us las Patrick
would say to remind our Old friends Of
something they cant think Of
1t WAS as late a. lSiS before cur young
friend for the Grsl time
STRUCK uIs coIOTs
as n bachelor, aud made treaty Of peace. of.
fenslye and defensive, promising to love,
honor and cherish Miss Phoebe Smith, oi
Peoria, At the marriage Al Br. Who frst
stakel oil the claim or run his lines we ar,
not informed. His attorney, Gov. PoTd
thea lived ut Peoria, and it was perfectly
surprising how often 1t was necessary fol
the surveyor to take hi. dashiag team 6nt
60 there. He probably had great deal o
'buslness III court" about that time. At al
events there is au end to boarding here enc
there at old Dave Walkers "dOuble lOl
cabin above the bath house, at buchanan 4
at tMrk's hotel, or with uncle Xm les 10
The green MnCktnaw blanket. tent aud tri
pod hnd substitute in wife and home.
That year the canal opened, the survey
having been authorized by congress in 1872
II.
board 10 devise measures TO effect, &c, &c
After twenty six years the work WAS done
That it crossed Fox river, which it never
ought 10 have done, and went TO la Sale
was supposed to he result Of combination
between Bill Stadden. our representative
Kinney, Of Peru. and John Green, OF Day
ton, and their use OF such persuasiyes ns
we're sufficient That it was an outrageous
squ0ndenng Of the peoples money can b(
realty perceived.
Col. INIT as surveyor, located the bridge
across the Illinois river at Peoria, also our.
at Ottawa The president Of Tie bridg,
company scratched out from his plans aud
specifications the $3.50 for clamps aud ribt
OF iron for he piers, and the piers wer,
bwit without them, The next spring thl
foot knocked the concern 20 flinders au,
entitled II Loss IN repairs and Improvement,
OF s.S 600 1t required some sense 20 le
wei enough alone
There IL u short chapter in this history
thai % bat AulC known. Al nm early perio.
l,itt nuG others, for friendship eaLc,
wLAT SECURITY oa TnE BOND
OF Gurnsey, the receiver in the land Office
with home at Rock Island. John Hogan wa,
registrar at Dixon. 1t WAS made 10 appear
lluma. ely that Gurnsey was Il detaulter /,
the amount Of nearly $4,000. In tn,
troublesome times following. some Of th
others on the bond failed and went 10 moth
ing one other, AT least, was supposed h
have iudiCiOusly covered up his propcrL,
under tic wife name, and sncakcd out Col
hul perhaps could have done this too, O.
spcah,d oil TO Canada lie did not do it, h
u.ct hls beet cndeayOrs 10 have Gurnsey'
settlements and receipts looked up, and 4,
finally reduced the Indebtedness 20 neali,
:-Iu %. AFTER spending long time in Was
IuHur, and after vcxatious deay aad provo
Gallons the government Rent Andrews, o
Iigoudcrogu, a member Of congress, to scttl,
wuA hIn. This Was 10y IIitt's payin, th,
lat dollar between Sl9 900 and ST.. .UOO-
a"i so thoroughly cleaning him out that h,
lat not cash enough left to buy his bare
worked wife u geto meeting calico dress
his was ahont tlirty-hve years ago, Man,
piece OF land in which re had investe,
Ia. Il h fnx